OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Carson, WA 98610

Carson: median income $72,773, home value $501,600, $385/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Calverton, NY 11933 86%2,450$74,195$444,100$400 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Darby, MT 59829 86%368$63,650$437,900$315 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Superior, MT 59872 86%345$55,926$396,600$387 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Whitehall, MT 59759 85%467$60,571$353,900$335 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Aurora, OR 97002 85%59$70,137$530,100$339 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Townsend, MT 59644 83%497$68,811$361,500$300 cheaper homes ($140K less) · newer homes
Lower Lake, CA 95457 83%475$63,594$488,800$241 less walkable
Jackson, CA 95642 83%514$81,438$456,100$263 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Gold Hill, OR 97525 83%238$72,025$450,200$246 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · less walkable
Priest River, ID 83856 82%286$75,285$427,900$333 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Mokelumne Hill, CA 95245 82%518$84,405$482,000$268 Very close on everything we compare
West Wareham, MA 02576 81%2,520$63,021$387,200$345 cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Kersey, CO 80644 81%946$97,847$409,100$276 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($93K less)
Palisade, CO 81526 80%824$87,500$501,800$337 larger
Lockeford, CA 95237 80%525$87,117$490,500$291 younger residents
Welches, OR 97067 80%29$87,794$387,500$324 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Elmira, OR 97437 80%137$95,129$517,900$320 less walkable
Brookfield, MA 01506 79%2,445$81,250$341,900$267 cheaper homes ($160K less)
East Brookfield, MA 01515 79%2,447$81,042$381,200$286 cheaper homes ($120K less) · more single-family homes
Spring Hill, FL 34607 79%2,433$66,422$398,900$282 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
Rocky Mount, MO 65072 79%1,571$78,750$335,700$286 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Norwood, CO 81423 79%872$62,125$425,000$292 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Oldtown, ID 83822 79%283$56,490$443,800$321 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Tuolumne, CA 95379 79%544$74,230$416,000$266 cheaper homes ($86K less) · more single-family homes
Sutter Creek, CA 95685 79%509$83,878$569,100$283 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.